POP

Boy bands aren’t always composed of high-stepping vocalists. Sometimes they play guitars, bass and drums and look an awful lot like rock bands — and it’s funny to think that’s probably what parents prefer in this day and age. 5 Seconds of Summer would certainly like to be thought of in Warped Tour terms. The Australian quartet won mass favor (and American Apparel gratitude) with its smash “She Looks So Perfect.” Better still, these boys play their own instruments and write their own songs. And on the band’s debut album they wear their influences on their sleeves by working with alt.rock producers such as Eric Valentine and Goldfinger’s John Feldmann, and co-writing with All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth and Joel and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte. But this is also the group that tours regularly with One Direction (with whom it shares management). Pop is definitely ahead of rock in its musical equation — although there’s certainly some genuine brawn and spunk to be found on tracks such as “Don’t Stop,” “Good Girls,” “End Up Here” and “Heartbreak Girl.” There’s no shortage of milewide hooks, huge choruses and buoyant energy. All the girls are hot, the loves are true and never-ending and even the occasional break-up songs sound like celebratory anthems. “Amnesia” ends things on a lush power-ballad note, a hint that this might be the band One Direction’s crowd remembers when it’s ready to move on to something a bit more potent.

AMERICANA

Puss n Boots, “No Fools, No Fun” (Blue Note) 3 Stars

Over the 12 years since her Grammy Award-winning debut “Come Away With Me,” Norah Jones has stayed a stylistic moving target, both on her own and with side projects such as the Little Willies. Her latest surprise teams her with alt.rocker Catherine Popper and jazz troubadour Sasha Dobson, and their Puss n Boots collaboration is heavy on the twang with nods to their roots, via covers of songs by The Band (“Twilight”), Tom Paxton (“Leaving London”), Neil Young (“Down By the River”), Wilco (“Jesus, Etc.”) and others. Jones contributes the uptempo “Don’t Know What It Means,” while Dobson’s “Sex Degrees of Separation” provides a welcome moment of irreverent levity. The trio’s harmonies, however, steal the show and make us hope they’ll pull their Boots on again in the not-too-distant future.

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New & Noteworthy:

Anberlin, “Lowborn” (Tooth & Nail): The Florida Christian alt.rock band returns to its original label for one more album before it disbands.

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Common, “Nobody’s Smiling” (ARTium/Def Jam): The Chicago rapper’s first new joint in three years includes guest appearances by Detroit’s Big Sean, Jhene Aiko, Cocaine 80s and others as well as production by hitmaker No I.D.

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Sean Jones, “im*pro*vise” (Mack Avenue): The youthful trumpeter’s seventh album was influenced by tours with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock’s Tribute to Miles group.

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Kelley Mickwee, “You Used to Live Here” (self-released): The Trishas members steps out on her own with this Memphis soul-flavored set that includes covers of John Fullbright and Eliza Gilkyson songs.